The Gospel of Jesus
The book of the generation of Jesus, descendant of David, descendant of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren; And Judah begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Boaz of Rachab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zerubbabel; And Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Jesus are fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things he thought better, and would honour being the father of the child.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born, the teacher of the Good News? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to pay respects to him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where the child should be. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and pay my respects also. When they had heard the king, they departed. And when they were come into the house were they found the child, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and were inspired by the child's presence: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, inspiration came upon Joseph in a dream to take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until Herod's wroth had passed. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: and in this way Jesus follows the scriptural patten which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. And in a way the scriptures were followed again in the life of Jesus, for it is written 'In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.' But when Herod was dead, behold Joseph had another dream which taught him to arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for those were dead which sought the young child's life.
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth.
So having being born in a humble manger, the son of Mary and Joseph, Jesus grew up and was well known as a godfearing child of a holy Jewish family. Jesus was strong in the Lord and loved his father Joseph and his mother Mary with all his heart. He worked with his father as a Carpenter and carefully learned all the ways of the trade. He was quick to pay attention to even the most minor of details and would listen faithfully as Joseph instructed him in the ways of Jewish living and being holy towards God.
Jesus cried greatly when Joseph died, and when they were at the grave his mother Mary said 'Fear not, dear Jesus. For your father has gone to heaven to be with his heavenly father, the father of us all. Remember that dear son. God is your father, and he loves you greatly.'
'I will remember,' responded the boy Jesus.
As Jesus grew, he grew strong in the faith, and was full of courage. The Holy Spirit of God watched over him, instructing his mind and teaching him the proper ways of godly conduct and how to teach men the way of the Gospel of God. The Holy Spirit blazed in the young man Jesus' heart, and as he worked and grew everyone in Nazareth thought of him as a most special and gifted child of God. But there was something different about him. Something different his mother Mary noticed. He was special, was Jesus, as the Angel Gabriel had told her. He was special and had a gift - a gift for all men in Israel and, one day, to the ends of the world. And as he continued to grow in learning, wisdom and understanding, Mary knew she must share her son's message to be a Holy Mother to the world, to spread the message of God's beloved peacemakers, children of God, children of peace, bound together in bonds of love, and unity.
As he grew Jesus shared with his mother his dreams from what he had seen in the sacred scriptures. Dreams of forming a special community - a chosen community - one which would live forever, a sacred ecclesia of God - which throughout eternity would serve God in love and fidelity, knowing God loved them dearly and would forever be faithful to them. And Mary knew her son was wise and would share him in this vision, as she knew Joseph her husband would have, had he lived longer. Jesus grew and soon, one day, he spoke with his mother.
'It is time, mother. The Day of the Lord is upon us and I must preach the Gospel. For God my father wishes this of me.'
And Mary nodded solemnly, gave her son her blessing, and sent him on his way. And then she prayed this holy prayer.
'God of my fathers, God of my ancestors, I sing praise to your name. My dear son Jesus, descended from our champion King David, is truly a Son of David, a man after God's own heart. I thank you King of Eternity for the passion you have placed in my son's heart, and I ask you to keep your hand upon him all his days, until he has completed his sacred mission. Praise to you Lord God Almighty. I rejoice in your ways with quiet humility and grateful service. Alleluia.
And Jesus went off, and came to John. And was baptized. And the Holy Spirit of God alighted upon him and a voice from the heavenlies said 'This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.'
And immediately Jesus went to the desert, were the dark lord tested him, but Jesus came through this testing in his faith and the Gospel was preached.
One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.
'God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted the same way.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Jesus continued his teaching. 'Judge not, less you are likewise judged. For the standard you use in your judgement may very well be applied to yourself in the way God decides to judge you. So what if there is a problem with your brother, like a little speck in his eye. You probably have a log in your own eye, so at least remove the log before you try getting the speck out of your brother's eye. Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.' Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, 'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?'
Jesus replied, 'The most important commandment is this: 'Shema Israel, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Achud.' And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Secondly, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. These are the prime commandments.'
The teacher replied 'Well said Jesus of Nazareth. To love God with all of your being is the summation of our faith, so much more than just the sacrificial aspects.'
'You are not far from heaven,' Jesus responded to the teacher.
Jesus spoke to his disciples. 'There was a man, walking along a road, and he saw a man who had apparently been robbed, lying on the road, bleeding. He was a Pharisee this man, and looked at the bleeding man, but was too busy to help him so walked on. Later on a scribe came by, but was also just a little too busy to get involved, and passed on as well. Later that day, when it was starting to get cold and dark, a Samaritan came along, who the Pharisees and Scribes really don't approve of, looked at the man, and despite it being late and cold, troubled himself to put the man carefully on his donkey, take him to an inn, and pay for his healing. Now tell me, was it the Pharisee, scribe or Samaritan who did the right thing?'
Jesus spoke to his disciples. 'The younger son of a farmer wanted the good life, sick to death of work. He'd had enough, demanded his inheritance right there and then, and because the farmer loved his son, he gave him his share. The son went off, partied for quite a while, but ended up broke. He was working for a man, feeding the pigs, and eating very poorly, when he came to his senses. 'At home I'll get a better feed. I will ask for forgiveness. I have been an idiot, but hopefully dad will forgive me.' The son went home, and his father killed the fatted lamb in his son's honour. But the older brother, who had worked hard and not left, remaining faithful, complained. And then the father said to the older brother, 'I would have done so much for you as well, and more besides. But rejoice, for your brother was lost to the family, but is now found again.'
Jesus was chatting with Nicodemus one day.
'Why do your disciples call you the Son of God,' he asked Joseph's son.
Jesus replied 'Did not the prophet Malachi teach that we all have one God, the Father of us all?'
'Yes, yes he did,' responded Nicodemus.
'And did not Moses write in Exodus that Israel, as a people, are God's firstborn son?'
'Exodus 4:22 I believe,' responded the knowledgeable Nicodemus.
'So wherefore are the Pharisees so uppity in their defiance of a son of Israel who righteously claims his God-given inheritance? They and their holy Hashem. Does not scripture even degree God prefers to be called by his real name? Nay, the Pharisees distance the people from God and put him on a pedestal when he is all of ours loving heavenly father.'
'True,' responded Nicodemus.
'Yet I will say more than this. Are not the gentiles children of Noah, our father also, and is not the God of the Rainbow covenant also their God? For he is the heavenly father of all the children of men who seek his name and his glory. For a nation which does not know God shall drink new spiritual wine and likewise call upon the presence of the Almighty.'
And Nicodemus was amazed.
'Why do they call you Messiah?' Nicodemus asked Jesus.
'Have you read Jeremiah chapter 33?' asked Jesus in response.
'In younger years,' responded the member of the Sanhedrin.
'It is clear,' continued Jesus, that not just one King of Judah fulfilled the Messianic role. For after the prophet declares Zedekiah the Messiah, the one whose name means 'The LORD our righteousness', he reminds us that David shall never lack a man upon the throne. For their are many Messiahs, and the Governor of Judah, my ancestor Zerubbabel, likewise fulfilled the role of Isaiah 11. For did not God grant Zerubbabel his signet ring as Haggai reminds us. And did not the prophet Zechariah teach that Zerubbabel would prosper by the Spirit of the LORD? For God's anointing was verily upon him.'
'But why do they call you Messiah?' asked Nicodemus.
'Psalm 89 teaches us that David's house fell. For such was the warning from God to Solomon. And Zerubbabel could only aspire so high for his generation. Why should the son of Joseph think more highly of himself? For those who abase themselves shall be exalted and those who exalt themselves shall be abased. A son of David knows his own heart, and my Christhood is of love, for what more Glory can I seek than that?'
And Nicodemus considered his words.
'So, you know all things do you?'Peter asked Jesus cautiously.
'The Son of God is a revelation in and of himself. One day you may know what that means.'
'Why do you speak with Nicodemus in private, Rabbi?'
'A gentle heart has Nicodemus. And of the Sanhedrin he is. He is accustomed to special treatment.'
'Yet God respects no man?' queried Peter.
'And a wise heart knows when to go both with the grain...'
'And against it,' finished Peter.
'There will come a time my friend when the Sanhedrin will not always be so accommodating to the likes of us. Meekness is not unwise at the moment. A dark day approaches.'
'You say that. But what do you mean?'
'I have made it clear,' responded Jesus.
They continued on the road and they reached Emmaus. 'A place of retreat,' said Jesus softly, though Peter heard him.
Jesus turned to Peter. 'The church throughout the ages is special to me. Francis the First, who father speaks of, is the end of an era in many ways. The end of Christian zeal for the holy. By then the church has become what it will remain, and the liberties it allows it will allow and continue so and the strictness it maintains it will maintain and continue so. A prophet will teach an end of these High Priests with Francis.'
'Yet the line will go on?' asked Peter.
'Till the end of the age,' responded Jesus of Nazareth.
'How long will the church age last?' asked Peter.
'How long is a piece of string?' responded Jesus, a soft smile on his face.
'Very funny, master,' responded Peter.
'You are my first high priest in a very long line, Cephas. Upon your shoulders you must bear a nation.'
'Yet how will I carry them all?' asked Peter perplexed.
'You need not worry, for I will be carrying you.'
Peter smiled.
'Peter.'
'Yes master?'
'Feed my lambs.'
And they spake not again that afternoon.
'Worship the Son of Man if ye must, for I know ye will,' and his disciples took that as approval. Later Peter spoke with Jesus in private. 'What did you mean? Who then should we worship?'
'The Son of Man came to worship God, not himself.'
'But who then should we worship?' asked Peter.
'Is it not Jehovah the Father of Glory,' said Jesus coldly, yet he forbade Peter to speak of the matter with the other disciples.
A little later Jesus shared a parable with his disciples. 'The Son of a grand and glorious king was sent by his father on a mission to spread his message of a kingdom of love far and wide. Yet the Son was so successful they received him as their Glory rather than the heart of love which had commisioned him. Tell me, who deserves the glory?'
And they talked among themselves and, as one, praised the son for his great success. Yet Jesus looked at Peter, who nodded softly in response.
'And you really believe yourself the Christ?' asked Nicodemus.
'Do you know better than I?' responded Jesus.
'We know who our Christ is. God shows him to us.'
'Then you are mistaken,' said Jesus.
'And for that we will likely suffer, I suppose,' responded Nicodemus.
Jesus said nothing.
In a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
'He knows. He has been told,' said one.
'Deep down, perhaps,' said Nicodemus.
'He has authorized his own death,' said another. 'His claims of Sonship climb in his followers every day. To divine ideas. He must be rebuked.'
Nicodemus remained silent.
The High Priest spoke, 'This Jesus of Nazareth is also a child of Israel. Yet none of us, Nicodemus, is exempt from our proper respect for the holy one upon high. Not even this Jesus of Nazareth.
And Nicodemus silently agreed.
After that Jesus preached many, many things for a while until the day came - the day he feared, but the day which would bring life to countless people. And, as he walked the stations of the cross, he remembered in his heart the love he had for those he had chosen and the price that needed to be paid for their salvation. And with courage and the last of his passion he reached the cross and was raised so that he might inspire faith in his followers.
A while later, after Jesus had been taken up to heaven, Saul converted and became Paul. And writing to the Corinthian Church (Daniel's Translation), he wrote:
'If I spoke with the tongues of an Angel, in all his glory, and thought myself splendid, what would it matter if I didn't really love people very much. If I was the ultimate prophetical voice, and expounded the word of God with so much wisdom that people were amazed at me, but didn't practice love towards my friends and fellows, what kind of person am I really? If I had 7 university degrees, with PhD's, but lacked intelligence in how I showed love to people, perhaps not even loving them at all, is my life really worth living? Love suffers long and is kind and patient. It is not arrogant or rude or unforgiving. And it does not think highly of itself, puffing itself up in pride. Love is the true voice of prophecy, it is the true word of God. And love, knowledge of love itself, is what is eternal. You see, prophetical preachers come and go, but love will last forever. All that knowledge was part of our learning, but love is the completion of our journey, giving us a fulfilment in life which makes it all worthwhile. When I was younger I behaved in childish ways, but growing up and growing in love I have learned to put these ways behind me. While I am young and naïve what I know is not complete, but when I love completely my knowledge will be perfect. Faith will last forever, and is a great virtue. Hope will endure for all time, and is a wonderful truth. But love is special, greater than even faith and hope, yes love is the greatest of all.'
A while later Jude the Apostle wrote this:
Jude, the servant of Jesus, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus, and called:
Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Teacher Jesus.
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Teacher Jesus;
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Jesus unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
The End
The Gospel of Tarcisius
Do you think there is a resurrection in the future, Nicodemus asked Jesus one day. Jesus looked at the Rabbi. Some say I am the Christ. I descend from Zerubbabel, who built the second temple. Surely my bloodline is messianic. What do you think? Nicodemus considered that. It is true. Zerubbabel has been considered a messianic figure. Art thou of the House of Christ, then? Jesus replied, It could well be. In my deeds and actions I follow the exmple of the prophets in their utterances. I attempt to be Christ-Like, and follow the figure the Son of God truly should. This has been the purpose of my Gospel ministry in many ways. A son of Israel, with God, who is our heavenly father, as Malachi the prophet teaches. If King David, as the psalm recalls, can be called the firstborn Son of God, should not I, Jesus of Nazareth, with a comprehensive ministry of Gospel truth, should not I, descendant of David, descendant of Zerubbabel, attempt to be Christ, if such a thing were available. I can not say with absolute truth that I am Christ, but I know my disciples often think this, and at times I do not disuade them from that, as I do like the glory of the idea. Who wouldn't? A Christ could be born in every generation, couldn't he? Jeremiah taught that there would always be available to the House of Israel someone to sit on the throne of King David, and for Levitical priests to offer sacrifices. I am attempting that idea – to be the Levitical Priest and Christ of David, and offer my own life in sacrifice. Is that noble? Or is it vanity? And the sacrifice I offer is my own life, and my own ministry, and my heart, flesh, blood and soul. I offer it for my followers, a dear bride to me, for such is my love and affection for them. It is birthed, these truths, in scriptural principles. In ideas of the Holy Torah. It may not be the purpose of the Torah in every way, but it has been a source of inspiration for these ideas none the less, even if in my own way and own understanding which I do pray is acceptable to God, as I pray the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart always will be. These words I say to you, they are inspired from the Covenant of God, the Rainbow itself is a heart of my words in my own way, for even in Holy Noah do I find inspiration and words of truth. But what can I say? Maybe I am a heretic, Nicodemus. A poor fool. A Christ complex perhaps, and nothing more. But, if in my foolishness I can draw men to God, and give them life and meaning, and be a holy way to the Father, perhaps such a fool I should become? How do you say? Nicodemus looked at him. Can we not all be holy fools at time, dear Jesus of Nazareth. We are only human, aren't we? Only human. Jesus stood there. A resurrection is a possibility. I can not say with absolute certainty, for the scriptures are the true word of God, but I sometimes ask how Isaiah came to his words, and whether his own heart had much of a say in the making of things. Perhaps resurrections of the dead in a future kingdom of Glory can not really, truly be. And life, this thing called life, just rolls on and on, through time, world without end. Amen. But maybe, just maybe, in the dim and distant future, at the end of the Age, maybe then there will be a resurrection of the dead. Maybe I will be received in glory that day, when God Almighty judges mankind, and the trumpet rings out and the holy angels call God's own chosen people home, who have served him throughout the age. It is something I shall teach, a second coming if you like, to my followers, and I think I shall, for I shall defend what the scriptures say, regardless, for verily they must be kosher, mustn't they? But of the truth of things, well, what is truth? What is truth? And they sat, and watched the Jordan flow on by, and were at peace in the heart of the Kingdom of God.
Caiaphas spoke to Nicodemus. This Jesus. He is not the Christ. He is a charlatan, parading his Israelite status as God's son with us, as if he was in Egypt itself under the wrath of Pharaoh. Nicodemus responded, yet, I think, Malachi and his teaching is true enough in our generation. Each generation does not always follow faithfully the righteousness of that before it, but at times we learn new ideas and our own truths. Perhaps this Gospelator, Perhaps this Gospelarian, this Jesus, has ideas which might suit us in time. Caiaphas shrugged. What of it? A man from Nazareth is hardly schooled in the wisdom of Jerusalem. Nicodemus replied, yet all Israel has its Torah and all Israel can learn the ways of the Mighty one upon high. Caiaphas said again, He is not Christ. He is a troublemaker, and we will make a sure end of him. Nicodemus replied, something tells me he is already aware of that, and provokes you to do as such. He fancies himself a sacrifice for sins, or an example of serving God for salvation of others to the very giving up of your own life, such being the dedication. Caiaphas thought on that. An interesting idea. Human sacrifice is not quite what God is looking for, but if the fool wishes to parade in front of Israel with his congregation for the next thousand years, then such will he do, I suppose. Nicodemus replied, it will go on? This Church? Caiaphas replied, we shall not be rid of his Gospel or message or followers any time soon at all. He has dug in deep. He has affected souls. He has taught his message with authority and power, and they shan't forget him any time soon. Nicodemus looked at Caiaphas. You don't like the man. Caiaphas replied, he is not to my taste of things. I find him arrogant. Conceited. He rubukes us pharisees and scribes as if he is the apple of God's eye. As if he is the font of all Torah knowledge, the Logos of God, I think they call him at times. Philo's message. If he had a bone of humility he would end his charade, repent, follow Torah, and leave the wisdom of God to Solomon and others properly trained. Nicodemus replied, so you say Caiaphas. So you say. Caiaphas spoke up. When this Prodigal Son of Israel finally acknowledges the wisdom of Torah, and gets over thinking he must be the one to set a new standard from his gospel, verily he doth say, to enter the Kingdom of God, then he will find his grounding and his truth. The Torah is the wisdom and stability of God in a world full of idolatry and hedonism. When our child Jesus finally realizes this truth, and abandons his vision of a Kingdom Divine, he will find his salvation. Nicodemus considered that. We have teachers, yet, who speak wisdom also in our generation, and the Torah can grow and can be enriched. Maybe Yeshua has something to say to us. A wine which is new really needs to be matured for many years, and it may take two thousand years or so before this gospel wine finally has enough wisdom to be understood by our community. Or it may take two thousand more. Maybe he shall be Christ in Glory, or fool supreme. But I will give the lad a chance to prove himself, and when I part this world, I will watch for any second coming of the glorious Jesus of Nazareth. Caiaphas smiled. Pigs will fly in the heavens before such occurs, I am sure. Nicodemus chuckled. So you say Rabbi. The Prodigal Son of Israel may be wasting his Gospel without refining it, if he doth verily face the cross of his fantasy, for if he had the patience to mature and wait till a greater age, say 40 or so, when deeper wisdom can be learned, and had children, he would be more revered than the miracle worker that he is known as. Yet, in the end, one day I think he will be one of us, and his Church will be with us in one way or the other, and then we may perchance drink of this spiritual wine of the Gospel, and verily find if there is wisdom indeed within. Caiaphas grinned. Getting drunk on the wine of Nazareth is not my style either, I will declare. In Judea they grow the best grapes, for who would drink from the vine of Galilee? Only a fool I tell you. Nicodemus replied, Yet we are one people, one Israel, with one God and father over us all. Even Nazareth must speak its mind on what it thinks wisdom divine. Even Nazareth must. Caiaphas poured himself a drink of wine and looked at Nicodemus. If you say so, Nicodemus. If you say so.
Jesus spoke with Peter. A rock is hard, Cephas. Don't let Satan delude you. Be hard. Be rock. Peter replied, I've served you this far. If I need to the foundation stone of your church itself, I will do the work, if that is what you want of me. But what do you want of me? Jesus replied, holiness. Purity. Goodness. Teaching modesty of behaviour to the church, for a husband to respect his wife, and a wife to serve her husband as Eve served Adam, in all godly humility. I do not say to you do not kill. I say this to you, why should you be so proud in yourself that you have refrained from murder. It is a rather basic code to boast I haven't killed anyone. Surely you can do better than that. Not, not only do not murder or kill somebody, but give them a break and forgive them, and help them in life. Be hospitable to them. It is a hard saying, charity, and it costs us of ourselves. And I want perfection, for God is perfect, perfect in his love, and perfect in his charity. I know, in my heart, you will be lukewarm at times, and I really should spit you out of my mouth because of it. But you know, when you ask for forgiveness I will give it to you. How can I not. You will feed my sheep, you will shepherd them, you will be faithful to them, and even in your cold and hard and dead times, one thing I do know, they will not kill very much at all. It shall be rare in the church. I know we will have a decent code of holiness in the end, and that the church will keep faith in truth and God and holiness, and not descend to sodomite behaviour, and refrain from murder and violence. Yet I know their humanity also, as God knew those destroyed in the flood. But shepherd them I say to you and when you teach them not to kill, teach them to love also, for that is the heart of the Gospel. It is the only rule, in many ways. Love. For it covers a multitude of sins. And those who love deeply and truly will not kill, and they would not covet and steal others cherished belongings, because they love them, and in the church we are family and we are one, and we share things because of that love. And if the church does sin I will pray to the Father to forgive you, for you are but sons of men, and not divine sons of God. And ensure you teach abstinence of things offered to idols, for we serve the true God, and not a dumb piece of wood or stone. And of blood, we should not partake of creatures strangled, and eating the blood of animals can not be good, for the heart of the covenant of Noah forbids such things. Do not abuse a man, and take him from his place in life, where God has his stationed with his family and his love, his work in life in serving the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, for kidnapping is no lawful or holy behaviour, and how can a man who is my follower ever think that I, in the standards of holiness I desire, how can he ever think I would allow such a vile thing as kidnapping, or other lawless behaviours. You and I know truly the law is holy and good, and there is so much wisdom therein, so much to be trusted and followed and a life built upon. And we should always study the scriptures and learn from them, and in loving God and your Neighbour, the very way you cherish your own soul, so much of the heart of the Torah is taught. And that is the new commandment I give you Peter. That you shall love others as I have loved you. Strive for the church, for salvation comes from Israel, and I send you into the world, with the commission of the gospel, to teach mankind and the fallen gentiles the way of God, and the light which God placed in Israel. For we proselytise and we missionize and we seek out the lost sheep of all the children of Adam and Eve, to build the Kingdom Divine, the Everlasting Kingdom of God, for the glory of Jehovah, for the glory of his love, and for the glory of everlasting life. Peter replied, I shall not fail you.
Why do you say you are wiser than Solomon? Asked Nicodemus to Jesus. Jesus replied, Solomon was a ninny. He was faithless. He knew the Lord, and his glory, yet went astray later in life. The proverbs of Israel are great wisdom, which can never be doubted, and all righteous Israelites do well to study and base their life on such truths of human nature and human society, but I know in the heart of my heart, I shan't stray from God this life. Torah is in me and Gospel has enriched me, and I know I serve the Father from heaven itself, and am truly one with him, for I seek the lost as God sends the prophets to seek the lost, and the Gospel has a heart for the poor and lost and downtrodden souls. These are the riches of love, and those who love God are known by God and know the riches of God's mercy and the riches of God's love, for God is love. And I have surrendered to this Gospel, and made my life empty of glory, abasing myself in humility, to teach those of Israel who hear my voice the Love of God, and search the heart of mankind for all who want and desire this love. And on this the Church will be built, and will endure, and the gates of hell shall not conquer it, for it is wiser than the wisdom of Solomon, even though his truths are equally as eternal. Nicodemus again asked, The Torah, the Law. Should we not obey this? Jesus replied, if you must observe all rules in legalism, then that is what you shall do, but I know the frailties of every heart, for who can ever say they have not sinned? Nay, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So strive for every rule, and obey every jot and tittle, and eternally justify yourself on this legalism if that is what ye must do, but have a perspective at least. You are not God, and you are not perfect Nicodemus, so which is easier to say, death to that soul for that sabbath violation, or I forgive you, and go and sin no more? Which is wiser to teach, I ask you? Nicodemus replied, I see your point, Jesus. I understand your teaching on this issue. Jesus replied, God desired mercy more than sacrifice, he did teach the prophets. Who am I to dispute the will of God? Are they not the very words of Jehovah himself. So why do the scribes and pharisees condemn me for teaching the heart of what God himself teaches? I charge them with hypocrisy time and time again for the miss so many of the points of the Torah, to justify their own legal codes, and their own legalistic ways of doing things, and they make their boast therein. The Church shall be truer to the Torah in the end, that is what my heart and soul and mind tell me, and what I attempt to justify. Nicodemus replied, And if you fail? Jesus looked at him. Well, I am only human, aren't I? I guess that God shall verily have to forgive me then, as I forgive others. But I see the heart of his will, which I serve, and the Kingdom of God will grow through the church on this truth.
Andrew was speaking with Thomas. You know, Andrew, Jesus is hard to believe. I think he really thinks he's the Christ. Andrew smiled. Well, isn't he Thomas? Thomas replied. I doubt it. Unless I saw some sort of sign, some irrefutable proof, I just would not believe it in the end. He calls me doubting Thomas, which is his quirky humor. I have been following him a while now, and still the Son of Man mocks me, and calls me little of faith. Andrew grinned, O ye of little faith Thomas. You'll work it out. Thomas replied. He took me aside, once. Last year. For a week. And he taught me a whole Gospel full of ideas. I will have that one day. The Gospel of Thomas, teaching the wisdom of Jesus. You other apostles will obviously reject it, for Jesus told me as such, but it also will go on forever, for heaven and earth may pass away, but the words of Jesus will never pass away. Andrew looked at him. The Gospel of Thomas? I doubt ye even call him Christ. Thomas replied, and maybe I shall not. He may end up the very Lord and God of my heart and faith, but he may never really be Christ to me regardless. To me, blessed are the solitary and the elect, for they are the ones who have their hearts in the Kingdom of God, like Jeremiah formed in the womb, and they shall return to it. My own dear Assembly, the Assembly of the Gospel of Thomas. That is our heart and spirit. Andrew replied, wise indeed. Almost as if they are verily predestined for such glory. Thomas replied, and perhaps they were, and perhaps God knows the end from the beginning, as the Prophet teaches, and perhaps Jesus knows that, for through my own studies I certainly do. Andrew replied, Jeremiah was called to plant Kingdoms and uproot Kingdoms, through the ministry of the Word of God, taught through the Holy Spirit. And Jehovah used Jeremiah to do as such in wisdom and truth, and I delight in studying that prophets words, as the Church likewise should always rejoice in studying, but I ask you, Thomas, will you plant Kingdoms and overthrow Kingdoms through your mighty Gospel? At first I doubt it, but maybe one day you shall. Maybe one day. Thomas smiled in response. Maybe one day, dear brother in the Lord. Maybe one day.
The End